Advanced machine learning detects unusual radio signals that could point to alien technology, though further investigation is needed.

Scientists have utilised an innovative artificial intelligence system to identify eight intriguing radio signals, previously undetected, that could indicate the presence of alien intelligence. These “signals of interest” were traced to five stars located relatively close to Earth, sparking excitement about the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life.

The search for alien intelligence often focuses on “technosignatures,” signals that may originate from advanced alien technology, either by accident or design. However, the immense volume of data and interference from human-made sources have long posed challenges for researchers. The newly developed system is designed to sift through this data more efficiently, isolating potential signals while minimising false positives caused by interference from Earth-based technology.

This breakthrough has already yielded results, with the AI system identifying eight promising signals from stars situated between 30 and 90 light-years away. Researchers, however, caution that follow-up observations have not yet confirmed the reappearance of these signals, leaving their origins uncertain.

Much of the search for technosignatures concentrates on narrowband radio frequencies, which can traverse space effectively and are relatively simple to produce and detect. The AI system combed through a vast dataset of radio signals, analysing 115 million snippets of information. After eliminating signals likely caused by interference, scientists were left with 20,515 candidates, of which eight stood out as particularly compelling.

These findings are detailed in the study “A Deep-Learning Search for Technosignatures from 820 Nearby Stars,” published in Nature Astronomy. The researchers stress that they have not yet determined whether the detected signals are genuinely produced by alien intelligence, urging the scientific community to continue investigations into these targets.

Additionally, the researchers highlight the potential of applying this AI method to other large datasets, accelerating humanity’s quest to discover life beyond Earth. This promising development could bring us closer than ever to answering the age-old question: are we alone in the universe?